Court fixes additional 2G spectrum allocation case for July 8

A Delhi court fixed July 8 for further proceedings in the additional 2G spectrum case in which Bharti's Sunil Mittal and others CMDs have been summoned.

NEW DELHI: The CBI Special court will hear on July 8 the case related to allocation of additional airwaves to incumbent telecom companies in 2002 in which Bharti Cellular CMD Sunil Mittal, Essar Group promoter Ravi Ruia and others have been summoned as accused. Special CBI judge OP Saini Monday deferred the matter as the Supreme Court had postponed hearing of Mittal and Ruia's plea challenging the summons of the lower court, until further orders.

The Supreme Court had issued notice to CBI on April 26 saying that the proceedings in the trial court will remain postponed until further orders. The apex court had also exempted the two senior executives from appearing in person in the trial court.

The special court had summoned the top executives on April 11 as accused for alleged allocation of excess spectrum, beyond permissible limits of 6.2 MHz, during the BJP-led NDA regime in 2002.

Mittal and Ruia had challenged the summons in the Supreme Court that had previously told the duo to appear before the trial court, furnish personal bonds and seek adjournment till the next date of hearing of the case.

Asim Ghosh who was the managing director of Hutchison Max Telecom is also an accused along with Mittal and Ruia but has not been served summons as yet. Ghosh is now chief executive of Canada-based Husky Energy.

The Delhi court had summoned the three top executives on March 19. The court took cognizance of the charge-sheet filed by the CBI against Shyamal Ghosh and three companies - Bharti Cellular (now Bharti Airtel), Hutchison Max and Sterling Cellular (both part of Vodafone India), last month.

The CBI had not named the three executives in its charge sheet, but the court summoned them as accused as it found enough material to proceed against them.

Judge Saini said in his order that the executives were prima facie, in control of affairs of the respective companies and they represent the directing mind and will of each of the companies.